OER Digest – December 19, 2024
Aishah Abdullah (SPARC) | Volume 186 | December 19, 2024
THE OER DIGEST
Your monthly newsletter for open education updates, opportunities, and reminders
HAPPY HOLIDAYS: We wish you a restful holiday season. We hope you take this time to recharge with family, friends, loved ones, and your furry companions. We would not be able to share these stories without your dedication and hard work, so thank you for all you do. Happy Holidays from the OER Digest Team!
OPEN CONNECTIONS
Conferences, jobs, and other OER-related opportunities
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: The Northeast OER Summit Committee invites proposals on the theme "All Hands on Deck," focusing on collaborations in Open Education. Topics include AI in OER, automatic textbook billing, data and assessment, inclusion, and the future of Open Education. Apply by January 6th, 2025. Learn more.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: The fifth annual Language OER Conference, hosted by the Open Language Resource Center at the University of Kansas, will be held virtually on Saturday, March 8, 2025. The conference invites faculty, graduate students, and academic staff to submit 15-minute lightning presentations on large-scale language OER projects or related issues. The deadline for proposal submissions is January 6, 2025. Learn more.
JOB POSTING: The Lehigh University Libraries are hiring for the new position of Open Knowledge Librarian. This role supports open and public access to scholarship and knowledge, among other responsibilities. Learn More.
JOB POSTING: Linn-Benton Community College is seeking a full-time faculty instructional designer for the Center for Teaching Excellence, focusing on the transition to Canvas and supporting the college's textbook affordability and OER initiatives. The position offers opportunities for creativity and collaboration with OER Faculty, and the application deadline is 12/22/24. Learn More.
STORIES FROM THE FIELD
Quick snapshots of those making change on the ground level, and those impacted
FROM DUBAI: Dubai recently hosted the 3rd UNESCO World Open Educational Resources (OER) Congress, bringing together global leaders to discuss the future of OER in education. The congress focused on advancing the use of open resources to promote inclusivity, accessibility, and affordability in education worldwide. Experts from various sectors shared insights on policies, collaborations, and innovations that could enhance the global adoption of OER. “This congress marks a pivotal moment in shaping the future of education, where open resources will play a crucial role in ensuring that quality education is accessible to all,” said Dr. Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education. Read More>>
FROM INDIANA: The Student Government Association (SGA) at Indiana University South Bend is launching a campaign to expand the availability of free educational resources for students. The initiative aims to raise awareness about open educational resources and encourage faculty to adopt these free or low-cost materials. By reducing the financial burden of textbooks, the SGA hopes to make education more affordable and accessible for all students. SGA President Chloe Garner stated, "Access to affordable learning materials is crucial for student success, and we believe this campaign will help ensure that every student has the resources they need to thrive." This campaign aligns with broader efforts to promote equity and enhance the learning experience at the university. Read More >>
FROM ILLINOIS: Knox College faculty members are developing free, open-access textbooks through a new OER grant. The initiative, aimed at reducing the cost of educational materials for students, is made possible by a grant from the state of Illinois. Faculty across various disciplines are collaborating to create high-quality, customized textbooks that align with their course content. This effort supports Knox College's commitment to enhancing educational equity by providing students with affordable learning materials while maintaining academic rigor. Read More >>
FROM MISSOURI: Washington University in St. Louis has been awarded a grant to support the development of OER. The funding will help faculty create and expand OER materials across various disciplines, reducing costs for students while promoting more accessible, flexible learning. The initiative is part of a broader effort to foster educational equity by providing students with free, high-quality resources tailored to their coursework. This grant will allow faculty to design OER that align with course goals and offer students more affordable and inclusive learning options. Read More >>
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Each edition, we highlight an interesting, new, openly-licensed resource
Milne Open Textbooks recently released Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Medical Writing: An Editor’s Advice by Deanna Erin Conners. This concise guide offers practical advice for biomedical authors on writing scientific papers and grant proposals, with a focus on avoiding common mistakes. Ideal for early-career researchers and instructors, it shares insights from an experienced scientific editor.
Dr. Bettina Schneider, Associate Professor at First Nations University of Canada, released Financial Empowerment: Personal Finance for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous People 2nd ed. This textbook introduces financial planning and decision-making, helping first and second-year students build financial literacy and skills to make sound financial decisions. It incorporates perspectives from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians, with examples drawn from Elders, the Canadian financial system, and the economy.
WEIGH IN
Great reads to repost or share and interesting discussions to consider
Cost of Textbooks Need to Be Lower | LMC Experience
TESU Textbook Savings Program Surpasses $10M | Trenton Daily
Educators Embrace Open Educational Resources | Pagosa Sun
UT System Hosts Educational Resources Meeting, Brings System Library Leaders Together | The Daily Texan
Brock Research Charts Path to Open Education in Ontario | Brock News
AU OER Grant Awards 24 | University of Northern Colorado
How to Get Free Textbooks at UW-Milwaukee | UWMP Post
OpenStax Celebrates 25 Years of Transforming Education | Rice News
Have suggestions for the next edition? Let us know at oerdigest@gmail.com, or tweet us @OERdigest.
The OER Digest is a public newsletter distributed to a broad group of stakeholders across the higher education community. Subscribe here.